For the first time this season, Lapierre will be a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Lapierre had an impact last season, scoring 22 points (8G / 14A) in 51 games, but has been held off the scoresheet in all seven contests so far this season.
In game eight of the regular season, the Capitals will continue their goalie rotation and turn to Thompson between the pipes for the fourth time. Despite a mediocre 3.28 GAA and .884 SV%, Thompson has been serviceable in the crease, leading the Capitals to a victory in each of his starts (3-0-0). The Capitals enter action on Monday as +133 home underdogs against the New York Rangers, owners of an impressive 6-1-1 record.
Roy exited Washington's season opener after playing only 8:39 time-on-ice and has not played since. The 29-year-old Roy signed a six-year contract with the Capitals in the offseason after spending the first six seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Kings.
Sgarbossa has been lighting up the AHL this season, scoring nine points (1G / 8A) in seven games with the Hershey Bears, earning himself a call-up. The 32-year-old, with 90 games of NHL experience, played 25 games with the Capitals last season, scoring seven points (4G / 3A).
Lindgren allowed one goal on 18 shots in the Capitals win in Philadelphia on Tuesday. The Capitals have been alternating between Lindgren and Logan Thompson to being the season, so Lindgren will get the start Saturday in Tampa. He's 2-1-0 with a. 2.36 GAA and .905 SV% through three games.
On the tail end of a back-to-back against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Capitals will switch to Thompson between the pipes. The Capitals were on the victorious side of a 4-1 contest against the Flyers on Tuesday, courtesy of a strong performance from Charlie Lindgren. The 27-year-old Thompson, in the first season of his tenure with the Capitals, has been limited to only two outings thus far (2-0-0), posting a 3.41 GAA and .877 SV%. The Capitals enter the action on Wednesday as -138 home favorites against the Flyers, losers of five in a row (0-4-1).
Five games into the 2024-25 campaign, the Capitals will continue their goalie rotation and switch back to Lindgren between the pipes on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers, losers of four straight (0-3-1). The 30-year-old Lindgren struggled in his first game of the season, allowing four goals on 32 shots (.875 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils, but rebounded with a stellar effort in his second outing, saving 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%), shutting the door in a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars.
The Capitals will return to Lindgren between the pipes on Thursday after the team recorded their first win in their previous outing with Logan Thompson in net. Lindgren struggled in his first contest, allowing four goals on 32 shots (.875 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils. The Capitals enter action on Thursday as +142 home underdogs against a Dallas Stars team that extended their early-season unbeaten record to 4-0-0 after a 3-2 shootout win over the San Jose Sharks.
Sonny Milano will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Vrana to make his season debut. Vrana is in his second stint with the Washington Capitals, the team that drafted him 13th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Now 28 years old, Vrana has struggled to establish himself as an everyday NHLer, despite scoring a respectable 41 points (26G / 15A) in his past 72 games across the last three seasons.
Milano suffered a -3 plus/minus in only 5:52 time-on-ice in Washington's season-opening 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils and will serve as a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights. Jakub Vrana will draw into the lineup for his season debut in favor of Milano.
With Matt Roy expected to miss a "decent amount of time", Dylan McIlrath will step into the Capitals lineup and make his season debut on Tuesday vs. Vegas. The 32-year-old is entering his ninth NHL season but has only appeared in 75 career games across that span, picking up seven points and 133 PIMs.
Thompson will make his Capitals debut on Tuesday against his former team, the Vegas Golden Knights. The 27-year-old Thompson spent his first three seasons with the Golden Knights, posting a solid 2.67 GAA and .912 SV% in 103 appearances (56-32-11). This season, he will likely split time between the pipes in Washington with fellow undrafted netminder, Charlie Lindgren.
Roy exited Saturday's season opener for the Capitals after playing only 8:39 time-on-ice. The 29-year-old Roy signed a six-year contract with the Capitals in the offseason after spending the first six seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Kings.
The Capitals did not provide much of an update on Roy's status post-game other than to say he's "out, lower-body." Expect more clarity on Roy's timeline before Tuesday's game vs. the Golden Knights.
After parting ways with Darcy Kuemper in the offseason, Lindgren has taken over the reins, with Logan Thompson, of the crease for the Washington Capitals. The 30-year-old Lindgren will start the season opener for the Capitals against a New Jersey Devils squad already playing their fourth game of the season. Lindgren had stretches of inconsistency last season but was mostly impressive, posting a 2.67 GAA, .911 SV%, and six shutouts in 50 games (25-16-7). Kuemper had only appeared in 60 total games before last season and is likely to have a heavier workload once again.
Thompson has been away from the team since Monday due to personal reasons but will return to practice on Friday ahead of their season opener on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils. Thompson is expected to share the crease with Charlie Lindgren this season, his first with the Capitals.
Vrana has spent the entire training camp with Washington on a PTO and has earned himself a one-year, $775,000 contract on Monday. The 28-year-old left-winger is entering his ninth NHL season and will hope to play in more than 50+ games for the first time since 2019-20. In 21 games with St.Louis in 2023-24, he had two goals, six points and eight PIMs.
It's unclear when Thompson is expected to re-join the Capitals, but their season doesn't open until Saturday, so it's safe to assume he'll be available for their opener. Thompson is expected to share the crease with Charlie Lindgren this season, his first with the Capitals.
